John e



(No Model.)

Horseshoe.-

, 4- Patented Jan. 4, 1881.

NJETERS, PNOYO UTNOGRA MER WASHINGTON. D. Q

NITED STATES PATENT lFFIcE.

JOHN E. BURNS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR' TO HENRY READ, OF

SAME PLACE.

HORSESHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,394, dated January 4, 1881. Application filed March 31, 1880. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. BURNS, of New York city, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements relating to Horseshoes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for equipping a horse temporarily with an adequate protection or shoe for the foot in doing heavy work on hard pavements or roads when the permanent shoe has been lost. It may be used foraconsiderable period in cases of necessity; but underordinary circumstances it should only serve until work immediately in hand is completed. This is not intended for a permanent shoe.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I consider the best means for carrying out the invention.

Figure l a top view of the shoe and key; Fig. 2, a side view, and Fig.3 a section on the line m 00 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a modifi' cation. It is a top view of the rear portion.

Similar letters of reference indicate corrcspondin g parts in all the figures.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3', the main portion of the shoe is in two parts, A and B, connected together both at the front and rear by connections which, to a limited degree, allow the parts to move backward and forward relatively to each other. This quality is important in fittingto lioofs of irregular shape. The rear end is drawn together by a screw, 0. Each of the parts A B is equipped with clips A B, which extend up and embrace the hoof, so that on being properly applied to the rear end and contracted by turning the screw 0 the horseshoe will be retained on the hoof by the pressure of the clips. The inner faces of the clips A B are roughened to aid in holding to the hoof. The front connection is formed by a link, D, which is let into a recess in the frontend of each of the parts A B, and secured by a screw-pivot, m. There are two or more holes, d, nearcach end of the link D. By removingthepivot-screwsmandinsertingthem again in different holes (I, the width of the front of the shoe may be varied within wide limits, thus adapting the same shoe for use on widely-varying sizes of feet without any excessive length of the screw 0. The holes a b for the bolt 0 are made a little large. The nut E and collar D are formed spherical on their bearing-surfaces, and the parts A and B are correspondingly concave. This allows the bolt 0 to also assume various inclined positions relatively to the central line of the shoe. The recesses in which the link D is received are also made sufficiently free to allow the link to correspondingly incline forward and backward. I attach much importance to the freedom of my joints. It rarely happens that a foot is perfectly symmetrical.

In usingmy invention the driver ofthe truck, stage, horse-car, or any horse or team of horses carries one of my shoes with a proper key and with means for removing any remaining nail or fragment of shoe. When he discovers that a shoe is lost he applies the shoe, changing one or both the pins m into other holes d, if the shoe requires much enlargement or contraction, and, having applied the shoe in place, turns the bolt 0 by the key G until it has taken a firm hold. The pressure on the hoof is not desirable for a permanent shoe, but it induces no mischief for a few hours. Ordinarily the shoe will be removed and replaced by a permanent shoe when the horse arrives at the end of his days journey, if not earlier.

Modifications may be made. The clips A B may be more divided, or they may be made into nearly or quite continuous ridges. The inner faces may be smooth, and the device will serve. The link D, with its duplicate holes d, may be placed at the rear, and the screwbolt 0 may be shorter and placed at the front.

Fig. 4 represents a modification in which the right-handed screw-bolt O is replaced by a right-and-left-handedscrew, having an enlargement at the center, by which it may be turned. With such modification there should be two of the nuts E, both held against turning, as indicated, but allowed to roll a little on their bearings.

The provision for holding the nutE against turning will be readily understood. The nut E is let into a recess or is applied with one of 1 its corners or faces against a corresponding surface on the part A, which prevents it from turning around. The head a is squared, and forms a convenient holding-head for a suitable hand-key, which may be carried in the pocket.

Some of the parts may be of various material, asmalleable cast-iron; but I prefer that the Whole be of steel and as light as is practicable.

The invention may be worked with the bearing-faces of the collar D and nut E simply conical instead of spherical; but I prefer the spheroidal contour shown.

I claim as my inventiou 1. The collar D and nut E, having spheroidal or tapered bearing-faces, in combination 

